Micrurus boicora BERNARDE, TURCI, ABEGG & FRANCO, 2018
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Higher Taxa | Elapidae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
Subspecies | |
Common Names | E: Boicora Coral Snake |
Synonym | Micrurus boicora BERNARDE, TURCI, ABEGG & FRANCO 2018 Micrurus hemprichii – BERNARDE & ABE 2006 Micrurus hemprichii – TURCI & BERNARDE, 2008 Micrurus sp. nov. – BERNARDE et al. 2012 Micrurus boicora — NOGUEIRA et al. 2019 |
Distribution | Brazil (Rondônia) Type locality: Rondon II Hydroelectric Power Plant, Municipality of Pimenta Bueno, State of Rondônia, Brazil (11°57’S, 60°41’W; elevation 325 m above sea level) |
Reproduction | |
Types | Holotype: IBSP 77.773, a subadult male, collected by Miquéias Ferrão da Silva Jr and Angele Martins da Silva on 23 December 2007 (Figs 2 and 3). Paratypes (N=7): All from Brazil: one adult male (IBSP 89.474), two subadult females (IBSP 89.475, 77.774), and one juvenile female (IBSP 89.473), with the same data as the holotype; one subadult male (IBSP 76.565), collected on 07 November 2001 by Paulo Sérgio Bernarde at Jaburi Farm, Municipality of Espigão do Oeste, State of Rondô- nia, (11°38’S; 60°43’W; 315 m above sea level; severely dam- aged at both ends due to the fire at the Butantan Institute); one adult male (IBSP 77.772; also severely damaged at both ends), collected on 03 February 2006 by Luiz Carlos Batista Turci at the property of the School Família Agrícola Padre Ezequiel Ramim, Municipality of Cacoal, State of Rondônia (11°28’S, 61°19’W; 200 m above sea level); one adult male (ABAM 1549) collected on 13 October 2012 by Domingos de Jesus Rodrigues at São Nicolau Farm, Municipality of Cotriguaçu, State of Mato Grosso (9°49’S, 58°15’W; 273 m above sea level). |
Diagnosis | Diagnosis and comparisons: Micrurus boicora can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: cloacal plate single; narrow parietal reddish band in juveniles present (absent in adults); body triads 5; brownish or orange-yellow dorsal body bands absent; white body rings equidistantly arranged, more than 11 ventral scales apart; red gular region; with red spots on belly triads; ventrals 155–166; subcaudals 19–23. Micrurus boicora is distinguished from all congeners, except those from the Micrurus hemprichii group, by presenting a single cloacal plate. It is distinguished from M. hemprichii by its lower number of body triads (5 vs. 6–10). Micrurus boicora differs from M. ortoni by its lower number of subcaudals (19–23 vs. 24–34) and ventrals (155– 168 vs.172–193), and triads (5 vs. 5–7). In addition, M. boi cora presents more ventrals between the white rings (> 11 vs. < 8, in M. hemprichii and M. ortoni). Unlike M. hemp richii and M. ortoni, M. boicora displays red colour ventrally among the triads (vs. brownish or orange-yellow as in these species), on mental and labial areas (vs. brownish or orange-yellow in M. hemprichii and M. ortoni), and has single red band on the tail, but no red on its neck or body dorsum. The body dorsum is black and with slender white rings (black with slender white rings and brownish or orange-yellow body bands in M. hemprichii and M. ortoni). |
Comment | Distribution: see map in Bernarde et al. 2018: 256 (Fig. 6). See map in Nogueira et al. 2019. |
Etymology | The specific epithet boicora is a Tupi-Guarani name (mbóî = snake; corá = coral), employed herein as a noun in apposition alluding to the coral coloration of the new species. Many Amerindians and peasants in Brazil collectively name true coralsnakes and their mimics as “Boicorá”. |
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